After defeating the Arizona Cardinals and keeping their AFC South title hopes alive, the Houston Texans now prepare to face the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 16. However, Woody Marks’ injury on Sunday continues to concern fans.
The running back injured his ankle on Sunday and left the field, but the latest updates give the franchise reason to breathe easier ahead of one of the upcoming weekend’s biggest games.
Woody Marks Injury Update
Head coach DeMeco Ryans stated the running back could have returned on Sunday if needed, but the Texans decided to preserve the RB and took a cautious approach to avoid aggravating the injury, leaving him on the sideline.
Doubts still remain about Marks’ playing condition, but the HC assures that the medical team will evaluate him daily, monitoring his physical progress. In other words, the ankle injury does not appear to be a long-term concern, and the RB may be available on Sunday.
“Woody could’ve came back in the game but for where he was, got his ankle tweaked a little bit early in the game, for where he was, felt like Jawhar & Dare were doing a really good job so just wanted to keep rolling with those guys to make sure Woody is good as we continue to go into the week.”, said Ryans.
DeMeco Ryans on Woody Marks:
“Woody could’ve came back in the game but for where he was, got his ankle tweaked a little bit early in the game, for where he was, felt like Jawhar & Dare were doing a really good job so just wanted to keep rolling with those guys to make sure Woody… pic.twitter.com/tGav9j0uPV
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) December 15, 2025
Marks, who ranks 46th in the PFSN RB Impact metric with a D+ grade, will likely not train on Wednesday and will not participate in full activity if cleared to return, as players with similar injuries typically make very little progress during the week. Still, given the game’s importance, the RB should make a full recovery.
The Texans, second in the AFC South with a 9-5 record, also hope the Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) slip up so they can clinch the division title. The franchise must also monitor the Indianapolis Colts (8-6), who still target the title and will face Houston head-to-head in Week 17.
If fit to play, Marks will play a key role in the Texans’ offense, given the Raiders’ difficulty stopping opposing running backs. This advantage increases Houston’s favoritism in the matchup.
READ MORE: 2026 3-Round NFL Mock Draft: Browns Build Around Shedeur Sanders, While 4 Ohio State Stars Go Early
Marks is having one of his best NFL seasons, taking responsibility for the backfield, establishing himself as the franchise’s primary running back, and generating excellent offensive volume and scoring opportunities.
Even if Marks cannot start, Jawhar Jordan should fill the role and likely deliver another strong performance after gaining confidence from his 118 yards and 17 touches in Week 15. In other words, he currently outperforms veteran Nick Chubb, who has shown a decline from his former elite status.
